Room for Different Opinions
At KLM, we listen to the opinions of our staff. A well-organized employee participation program and trade union organizations all keep management and staff in constant dialogue. Individual staff are also assured of a reliable complaint and whistleblower procedures.
Employee Participation
Employee participation both follows and influences company policy. The company is, for instance, legally obliged to seek the recommendations and consent of staff representatives. In the Netherlands, there are three levels of employee participation, embodied by the Works Council, the divisional councils, and departmental committees. The Works Council consults with management on KLM-wide issues. Furthermore, there is a European Works Council that deals specifically with issues relating to cooperation between Air France and KLM. There are three divisional councils at Cargo, Ground Services, and Engineering & Maintenance. And the departmental committees represent the interests of staff in their immediate working environment.
Labor Negotiations
When it comes to negotiating collective labor agreements, our staff are represented by trade unions, with which KLM negotiates collective agreements for ground staff, cabin personnel, or cockpit crews.
Complaints Procedures
Individual employees who encounter problems in the workplace or with a superior – problems they cannot solve together – can seek recourse to Complaints and Appeals Procedures. The employee will be assisted by a colleague and can rest assured that his or her complaint will be handled with all due gravity and care.
Whistleblower Procedure
KLM feels it is important that staff be offered a means of reporting suspicions of financial misconduct at the company. Examples include fraud, false representation of affairs, and corruption. Our Financial Whistleblower Policy describes in detail how an employee can report misconduct.
Research
KLM also actively monitors the opinions of its staff. For instance, via the Internal Perception Monitor (IPM), which is used to assess how our staff perceive cooperation between KLM and Air France.
